Nanoparticles in 472 Human Cerebrospinal Fluid: Changes in Extracellular Vesicle Concentration and miR-21 Expression

Kyue-Yim Lee1, Ji Hye Im1, Weiwei Lin2

  • 1Department of Cancer Control, National Cancer Center Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, Goyang 10408, Korea.

Cancers
|September 29, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Monitoring extracellular vesicles (EVs) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) can help diagnose leptomeningeal metastasis (LM). Increased EV concentration in CSF correlates with longer survival and treatment response in LM patients.

Area of Science:

  • Neuro-oncology
  • Biomarker Discovery
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Analysis

Background:

  • Leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) presents a poor prognosis and diagnostic challenges.
  • Predicting treatment response in LM is difficult.
  • Extracellular vesicles (EVs) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are potential diagnostic and prognostic indicators.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the diagnostic and prognostic value of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for leptomeningeal metastasis (LM).
  • To explore the correlation between EV concentration, patient survival, and treatment response in LM.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of nanoparticles in 472 human CSF samples using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA).
  • Examination of EV concentration changes after intra-CSF chemotherapy in 33 non-small cell lung cancer patients with LM.
  • Assessment of EV markers (CD9/CD63/CD81) and microRNA-21 expression.

Main Results:

  • CSF nanoparticle concentration was significantly higher in LM patients compared to controls (2.80 × 10^8 /mL vs. 1.49 × 10^8 /mL, p < 0.01).
  • Patients with increased EV concentration showed longer overall survival (442 vs. 165 days, p < 0.001).
  • EV marker expression and microRNA-21 levels varied between favorable and unfavorable prognostic groups.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated CSF extracellular vesicle concentration may serve as a predictive marker for survival duration in LM.
  • Combined analysis of EVs and microRNA-21 could monitor intracranial chemotherapy efficacy in LM, particularly in non-small cell lung cancer.

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